Livestock

Putting cattle out on recently harvested corn is a great feed option, but there are some protentional health hazards that producers need to be aware of according to Extension Beef Educator Lindsay Waecher-Mead. 

Hay forage is a traditional source of food for cattle, but there have been recent reports of a plant that could be toxic to livestock. Extension Educator Ben Beckman says whorled milkweed won’t be touched by cattle, but it could be a serious problem if it has been incorporated with hay that you’ve already put up for the season. 

The University of Nebraska is conducting a study on cattle pregnancy detection and reproductive performance. Extension Cow-Calf Specialist Kacie McCarthy explains that this ongoing research will help producers make better management decisions during pregnancy to enhance cow performance.
 

As strong cattle markets continue to trend upward, other areas of the industry point to good economic outcomes. Nebraska Extension Livestock Marketing and Risk Management Specialist Elliott Dennis says historically high calf and cull cow prices, an aging producer base, and a severely reduced national cowherd inventory has kept the markets strong.

Cattle prices continue to rise as consumers continue to have strong demand for beef, despite it increasing retail price. Nebraska Extension Livestock Marketing and Risk Management Specialist Elliott Dennis says beef has remained the number one protein choice for consumers. 

Cattle producers that are set up to feed calves in a bunks may want to consider limit-feeding a high energy diets as a cost-effective option for growing calves this fall and winter. Nebraska Extension Educator Erin Laborie says while limit-feeding is not a new concept, current forage prices may make this an attractive alternative to feeding high roughage diets.

Making silage from late season hail damaged corn could be a great option for many producers. Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist Mary Drewnoski talks about the advantages and risks of feeding hail damaged corn silage and earlage. 

Bovine Congestive Heart Failure is the single most costly health-related problem in feedlots with losses surpassing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in individual operations. Veterinary Brian Vander Ley an Epidemiologist and director of the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln talks about bovine congestive heart failure and what signs and symptoms to look for in your cattle.